Paddle-wheel.



No. 728,620. PATENTED MAY 19, 1903.

J. BOURKE.

PADDLE WHEEL.

APPLIOAT ION FILED OUT. 7, 1902.

IN m n W UNITED STATES Patented May 19, 1903.

PATENT OFFICE.

PADDLE-WH EEL.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters iPatent N 0.. 728,620, dated; May19, 1903.

Application filed October 7, 1902.

Serial No. 126,337. (No model.)

To all whom, it nuty'corwern:

Be it known that I, JOHN RoURKE, a citizen of the United States, and aresident of New London, in the county of New London and State ofConnecticut, have invented new and useful Improvements in Paddle-Wheels,of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

This invention relates to improvements in paddle-wheels for vessels; andthe object is to provide a paddle-Wheel of the featheringblade type soconstructed that the friction on the blades upon entering and leavingthe water will be reduced to a minimum.

I will describe a paddle-wheel embodying my invention and then point outthe novel features in the appended claims.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part ofthis specification, in which similar characters of reference indicatecorresponding parts in both figures.

Figure 1 is a side elevation, partly in section, of a paddle-wheelembodying my invention; and Fig. 2 isa front elevation thereof.

The end frames of the paddle-wheel consist of the outer rings 1 and theinner rings 2,

connected, by means of spokes 3,with the hubs 4, having the journals 5.The blades or paddles 6 have pivotal connections 7 at their ends withthe spokes 3' between the rings 1 and 2, the pivotal connections 7 beingplaced below the longitudinal centers of the blades, (see Fig. 2,) thusproviding a greater area for water-pressure above the pivotalconnections than below the same. The blades are connected one withanother by means of links 8, the said links being pivotally connectedwith a blade below its pivotal point and having sliding connection withthe next forward blade above its pivotal point. As here shown, each linkis slotted at its forward end, as indicated at 9, and this slotted endpasses into an opening provided in the blade and receives a pin 10. Bythis arrangement whenthe blade first enters the water it is on asubstantially horizontal plane, and the working blade, or, in otherwords, the lowermost blade, stands in a vertical position and thereafterquickly assumes a slanting position to cut edgewise through the water.The next blade while approaching its working or powerposition graduallyassumes a vertical position, as indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 1. Asthe blade assumes its vertical position by the water-pressure againstits upper portion the said blade engages at its ends with stop-lugs 11,arranged on the spokes of the end frames.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secureby Letters Patent 1. In a paddle-wheel, a series of blades pivoted belowtheir longitudinal centers, and link connections between the blades,each link having a pivotal connection with the blade below its pivotalpoint and sliding connection with the adjacent forward blade above itspivotal point. V v

2. A paddle-wheel comprising circular end frames, spokes extended fromthe "circular frames to a hub, blades pivoted to said spokes, thepivotal connections being below the longitudinal centers of the blades,the upper edges of the blades being slotted or provided with openings,and links having pivotal connections with the blades-below their pivotalpoints, the forward end of said links being slotted and passing throughthe openings of the'forward blades, and pins. in the blades passingthrough said slots.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in thepresence of two subscribing witnesses.

JOHN BOURKE.

Witnesses:

JNo. M. BITTER, O. R. FERGUSON.

